Kim laments MPs' rejection of woman as PM

President Kim Dae-jung has described parliament's decision to reject the appointment of the country's first woman prime minister as a blow to women's rights.

Mr Kim told his cabinet yesterday that legislators' veto of the appointment of Chang Sang was "just lamentable and regrettable".

The prejudice towards her appointment surfaced last month with sexist remarks from the opposition Grand National Party politician Kim Moo-sung, who said: "It is very disturbing to think that a woman will become head of state if President Kim cannot carry out his duties."

But President Kim told cabinet: "We aim to become one of the four biggest economies and a first-rate country in the world, but this is impossible in the current environment where women's advancement in society and employment rate is low, and their leadership role is weak.

"A female premier could have led progress in women's issues in our country, where there is a tradition of male chauvinism."");document.write("

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Dr Chang's nomination for the prime ministership was blocked by the National Assembly on Wednesday over alleged ethical concerns, including an inaccurate resume and property deals.

After the 144-100 vote, the 62-year-old university president resigned.

The opposition's sexist comments provoked such condemnation from women's rights groups, and Mr Kim Moo-sung was forced to apologise and resign as chief-of-staff for the party's candidate for president, Lee Hoi-chang.

The "allegations" against Dr Chang included selling flats, the decision by her United States-born son to choose US rather than Korean citizenship, and an inaccuracy in her resume, which said she had obtained a doctorate from Princeton University, rather than Princeton Theological Seminary.